FR3108073A1 - Functional assembly of a hydrocurner comprising two functional modules and two subframes adaptable to different chassis of carrier vehicles. - Google Patents

Abstract

- Functional assembly of a hydrocurner comprising two functional modules and two subframes adaptable to different chassis of carrier vehicles. - The hydrociller (1) comprises a carrier vehicle (2) provided with a frame (3), and a functional assembly (4) removably fixed to the frame (3) and comprising two functional modules (9A, 9B) comprising all functional equipment, namely a functional module (9A) with a tank (8) and a functional module (9B) with a pumping system, as well as two sub-frames (10A, 10B), each functional modules (9A, 9B) which can be fixed on one of the sub-frames (10A, 10B), each of the sub-frames (10A, 10B) being adaptable to different chassis of the carrier vehicle and being adapted to the chassis ( 3) of the carrier vehicle (2) on which it is intended to be mounted, thus allowing rapid installation and removal of the functional assembly (4). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1.

Description

Functional assembly of a sewer cleaner comprising two functional modules and two subframes adaptable to different chassis of carrier vehicles.

The present invention relates to a functional assembly of a sewer cleaner intended to be mounted on a carrier vehicle, and a sewer cleaner provided with such a functional assembly.

STATE OF THE ART

More particularly, although not exclusively, the present invention applies to an industrial hydrocleaner. It can also apply to a sewer cleaner which is intended, in particular, to carry out cleaning and pumping operations of wastewater networks and sewerage works.

It is known that an industrial hydrocleaner is intended for cleaning work on equipment and industrial installations. In particular, an industrial sewer cleaner is used during pumping and cleaning work on oil and oil-related sites. A hydrocleaner used in oil and oil-related complexes has the following functions in particular:
- to pump petroleum products; And
- to carry out various works (stripping, unblocking, upgrading of exchanger tubes, cleaning of enclosures or tanks, etc.) at high pressure.

To do this, the sewer cleaner includes a set of functional equipment (collection tank, pumping system, etc.) allowing pumping and cleaning operations to be carried out. This functional equipment is mounted on a carrier vehicle such as a truck. Generally, the functional equipment of the sewer cleaner has a long lifespan, for example of the order of twenty years, which is, in general, much higher than the duration of (good) operation without failure of the carrier vehicle, often less than ten years old.

Also, after ten years of operation, the operator of such an industrial sewer cleaner is faced with the following dilemma:
- either keep the sewer cleaner longer (beyond this duration) with increasing maintenance and/or repair costs for the carrier vehicle as well as increasing downtime, in particular for maintenance and/or repair operations ;
- or replace the sewer cleaner with a new sewer cleaner to have a new carrier vehicle, knowing that the functional equipment is still in good working order and could have continued to be used.

Each of these two solutions is expensive, and neither of them is really satisfactory.

Added to this are environmental constraints. In particular, the standards on vehicle exhaust emissions are changing very quickly and as a result reduce the life of carrier vehicles or even reduce the places where sewer cleaners can be used.

The present invention relates to a functional assembly of a sewer cleaner intended to be mounted on a carrier vehicle provided with a chassis, the object of which is to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks, the functional assembly comprising a plurality of functional equipment.

According to the invention, said functional assembly comprises:
- two functional modules integrating all said functional equipment, namely a first functional module provided with at least one tank, and preferably other elements described below, and a second functional module provided with at least one pumping system ; And
- two subframes, each of said functional modules being able to be fixed on one of said subframes, each of said subframes being adaptable to different carrier vehicle chassis and being adapted to the chassis of the carrier vehicle on which it is intended to be mounted.

Thus, thanks to the invention, it is possible to keep the functional equipment which is in good working order and to replace the carrier vehicle, by mounting the functional assembly on another carrier vehicle, in particular a new carrier vehicle, via the two subframes that can be adapted to the new carrier vehicle.

When changing the carrier vehicle or during the first installation on a carrier vehicle, each of the two subframes which is therefore adaptable to different chassis (and thus to different carrier vehicles) is adjusted or produced to be adapted to the chassis of the carrier vehicle used.

The functional unit also has other advantages specified below.

In a preferred embodiment, each of said subframes is adaptable in width.

Advantageously, each of said subframes comprises side members and cross members, the cross members having a length adapted to the width of the chassis of the carrier vehicle. To do this, in a particular embodiment, at least some of said crosspieces are telescopic, which makes it possible to keep the same crosspieces to modify the width of the subframe or subframes.

Furthermore, advantageously, at least some of said crosspieces are curved to create a passage under the curvature, in particular to allow the passage of pipes and/or connecting cables. This curvature can be made upwards or downwards.

Advantageously, each of the subframes has a limited number of attachment points (or zones), preferably four attachment points, intended for its removable attachment to the chassis of the carrier vehicle. By this limited number of fixing points, as well as by the characteristics specified below of these fixing points, it is possible to carry out an easy and rapid installation and/or removal of the functional assembly on the frame of the carrier , which makes it possible to reduce the period of immobilization of the hydrocleaner and the costs of installation and/or removal.

Furthermore, advantageously, the first module is provided, in addition to the tank (preferably a collection tank, in particular for pumped products), with at least some of the following elements:
- water tanks;
- cyclone tanks and pumps;
- storage boxes; And
- accessories (or equipment), necessary and/or useful for the implementation of the sewer cleaner, such as a high pressure hose reel, a pumping hose reel and/or command and control systems.

Furthermore, advantageously, the second module comprises a closed box in which is installed, in addition to the pumping system, at least one high pressure system and one filtering system.

The present invention also relates to a sewer cleaner which comprises a carrier vehicle provided with a chassis, as well as a functional assembly such as that described above, which is removably fixed to said chassis of the carrier vehicle.

Advantageously, each of the subframes is removably fixed to the chassis at fixing points, preferably at four fixing points, each of the fixing points comprising a first support element integral with the subframe which is fixed in a removable, for example by means of a bolt, on a second support element secured to the frame.

In a particular embodiment, the chassis of the carrier vehicle has a variable width and, in this case, each of the subframes is adapted to the width of the part of the chassis to which it is fixed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

The appended figures will make it clear how the invention can be implemented. In these figures, identical references designate similar elements.

Figure 1 is an exploded schematic view of a particular embodiment of a hydrocleaner.

Figure 2 is a schematic view, in perspective, of part of the hydrocleaner of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of an example of a subframe and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a cross member of the subframe of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a partial schematic view, in cross section, illustrating a first embodiment of a point of attachment of a subframe to a chassis of a carrier vehicle.

Figure 6 is a side, schematic and partial view of the first embodiment of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a partial view, in perspective, of a support element of the first embodiment of Figures 5 and 6.

Figure 8 is a partial schematic view, in cross section, illustrating a second embodiment of a point of attachment of a subframe to a chassis of a carrier vehicle.

Figure 9 is a side, schematic and partial view of the second embodiment of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a partial view, in perspective, of a support element of the second embodiment of Figures 8 and 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A hydrocleaner 1 illustrating the invention is shown in a particular embodiment in Figures 1 and 2.

In a preferred application, the sewer cleaner 1 is an industrial sewer cleaner which is intended for cleaning work on equipment and industrial installations, and in particular for pumping and cleaning work on oil and oil-related sites.

The sewer cleaner 1 comprises a carrier vehicle 2 provided with a frame 3 of longitudinal axis X-X (figure 1), and a functional assembly 4 which is intended to be fixed (removably) on said frame 3 of the carrier vehicle 2, as specified below.

The carrying vehicle 2 is a truck, namely a motor land vehicle intended for transport, which is equipped, in the usual way, in particular, with a cabin 5 (for a driver), a steering axle 6, carrying axles 7 and frame 3.

The functional assembly 4 comprises, for its part, as represented in FIG. 1, two functional modules 9A and 9B. "Functional" module (or equipment or assembly) means the fact that the module (or equipment or assembly) includes means allowing the implementation of specific functions (or tasks or operations) of the hydrocleaner 1, such as pumping industrial products for example.

The functional modules 9A and 9B integrate all the functional equipment of the sewer cleaner 1. In particular, the functional module 9A is notably provided with a collection tank 8, for example made of stainless steel, as well as other equipment specified below , and the functional module 9B is provided with a pumping system as well as other equipment also specified below. The functional module 9B comprises a closed box 29, for example made of stainless steel, in which the equipment of this functional module 9B, which is not shown in FIG. 1, is installed.

Functional assembly 4 also includes two subframes 10A and 10B. The functional module 9A is configured to be able to be fixed (removably) to the subframe 10A and the functional module 9B is configured to be able to be fixed (removably) to the subframe 10B.

Each of the subframes 10A and 10B can be removably attached to the chassis 3. The term “removably attached” means being able to bind in a sufficiently solid and stable manner for the intended use, for example by means of a bolt, this link can be removed to release the linked element.

Each of the subframes 10A and 10B is adaptable to different frames 3 of a carrier vehicle, that is to say it can be modified, in particular in width, to be able to be adapted, that is to say say be installed and fixed on the particular frame of any carrier vehicle, in the manner described below. In a particular embodiment (not shown), when the chassis of the carrier vehicle has a variable width, each of the two subframes is adapted to the width of the part of the chassis on which it is to be fixed.

The functional assembly 4 is adapted to the chassis 3 of the carrier vehicle 2 on which it is intended to be mounted.

Consequently, the functional assembly 4 can be mounted on carrier vehicles provided with different chassis, by adapting, each time, the two subframes 10A and 10B to the chassis 3 of the carrier vehicle 2 used. The only necessary adaptation of functional unit 4 therefore concerns the adaptation of subframes 10A and 10B.

In Figure 1, there is shown an arrow E directed towards the front of the carrier vehicle 2 (and therefore of the sewer cleaner 1), the rear being directed in the opposite direction. Functional module 9A is arranged via subframe 10A at the rear of frame 3, and functional module 9B is arranged via subframe 10B at the front of frame 3, in front of functional module 9A.

The two subframes 10A and 10B are therefore mounted on the single chassis 3 of the carrier vehicle 2, the subframe 10A being arranged towards the rear of the carrier vehicle 2 and the subframe 10B being arranged forwards, between said subframe 10A and the cabin 5 of the carrier vehicle 2.

The functional assembly 4 can therefore be transposed from one chassis of a carrier vehicle to another chassis of another carrier vehicle, thanks to the modular equipment (namely the two functional modules 9A and 9B) associated with intermediate parts ( namely the two subframes 10A and 10B) adaptable to different chassis.

Thus, it is in particular possible to keep the functional equipment which is still in good working order and to replace the carrier vehicle 2, by mounting the functional assembly 4 on another carrier vehicle, in particular new, via the two subframes 10A and 10B which can be adapted to the chassis of the new carrier vehicle. The carrier vehicle can also be replaced to meet new regulatory, and in particular environmental, constraints. The functional unit 4 and the sewer cleaner 1 have other advantages specified below.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the subframes 10A and 10B is adaptable in width.

In addition, in a preferred embodiment, each of the subframes 10A and 10B comprises two side members 11A and 11B and cross members 12A and 12B fixed to these side members 11A and 11B, as shown for the subframe 10A in FIG. 3 The crosspieces 12A have a length l1 (FIG. 4) adapted to the width l2 (FIG. 1) of the chassis 3 of the carrier vehicle 2.

The crosspieces 12A, 12B of the subframe 10A, 10B, of which a particular example of the crosspiece 12A is shown in Figure 4, are arranged in a transverse direction illustrated by a double arrow T in Figure 3, and the side members 11A, 11B of the subframe 10A, 10B are arranged in a longitudinal direction illustrated by a double L.

The subframe 10A (of Figure 3) is mounted on the frame 3 with its longitudinal direction L parallel to the longitudinal axis X-X (Figure 1) of the frame 3 and with its transverse direction T parallel to the transverse direction Y (Figure 1) of the chassis 3.

To do this, crosspieces 12A of appropriate length l1 are used. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), it is also possible to use crosspieces which are telescopic in the direction of the length l1, which makes it possible to use the same crosspieces for subframes of different widths.

In the example of Figure 3, the beams 11A have a U-shaped cross section with flat faces. The openings of the U-shapes of the two beams 11A are arranged facing each other and respectively receive the ends 13 and 14 of the crosspieces 12A (FIG. 4) which are fixed, in particular using bolts, to said beams 11A. In the example of Figure 3, the subframe 10A is provided with four crosspieces 12A.

In addition, the subframe 10A comprises four fixing brackets 15 which are arranged, on each side, forwards and backwards. The fixing brackets 15 are fixed, for example welded or screwed, to the outer face 31 of the side members 11A, projecting outwards. The fixing brackets 15 are intended to receive the functional modules 9A and 9B which are removably fixed to these fixing brackets 15 using cooperating means. In a particular embodiment, a limited number of fixing points is provided, preferably four fixing points as in the example of figure 3.

The chassis 3 of the carrier vehicle 2 comprises, for its part, in the usual way, in particular two side members 16 (parallel to the axis X-X) and a plurality of cross members 17 fixed transversely (in the direction Y) to these two side members 16.

In a particular embodiment, for fixing each of the subframes 10A and 10B to the chassis 3, a limited number of fixing points 32 are provided, that is to say points (or zones) where the subframe 10A, 10B is removably attached to the frame 3. Four attachment points 32 are preferably provided, namely, on each side, a forward attachment point and a rearward attachment point of the subframe considered.

In the example of attachment represented in FIGS. 5 to 10, at each point (or zone) of attachment 32, the spar 16 is provided with a support element on its external face 33. In the example of these figures 5 at 10, the spar 16 has a U-shape with flat faces whose opening is oriented inwards.

In addition, in a first embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 7, the support element is a fixing bracket 18 fixed to the outer face 33, which projects upwards from the side member 16 of the frame 3, in order to be able to serve transverse support to the spar 11A of the subframe 10A which rests on the spar 16.

The spar 11A is also provided with a support element 19 which is fixed to the external face 31 of the said spar 11A. The support element 19 is fixed, in a removable manner, on the fixing bracket 18 by means of a bolt 20 (provided with a screw and a nut). The support element 19 comprises a central branch 19A and side branches 19B and 19C spaced apart, as shown in Figure 7.

In addition, in a second embodiment represented in FIGS. 8 to 10, the support element is an element 21, of the “crow” type, which reaches the height of the longitudinal member 16 of the chassis 3. The longitudinal member 11A of the false- frame 10A rests on spar 16.

The side member 11A is also provided with a support element 22, which is fixed to the external face 31 of the side member 11A of the subframe 10A. The support element 22 is fixed, in a removable manner, on the support element 21 by means of a bolt 23 (provided with a screw and a nut). The support element 22 comprises a central branch 22A and side branches 22B and 22C which are parallel to each other and orthogonal to the central branch 22A, as shown in Figure 10.

Furthermore, in a particular embodiment, some of the crosspieces 12B are curved (or curved), to create a passage below or above the crosspiece, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 for the subframe 10B .

Such a curvature which makes it possible to create a passage under the curvature, in particular to allow the passage of pipes and/or connecting cables, can be made upwards or downwards. This curvature can be made upwards like the curvatures 24A (FIGS. 1 and 2) or downwards like the curvature 24B (FIG. 1) of the subframe 10B.

Furthermore, in a particular embodiment (not shown), it is possible to use a carrier vehicle which comprises a frame whose width is not constant over the entire length of said frame. In particular, the frame may comprise, along its longitudinal axis, at least two parts linked together and each of which has a constant width, different from the width of the other part. For example, the chassis of the carrier vehicle may have a greater width at the front than at the rear, due to different types of axles, with for example a single wheel at the axle at the front and dual axle wheels at the rear. In such a particular embodiment, each of the two subframes is adapted to the width of the part of the frame on which it is to be fixed. Therefore, having two subframes and two functional modules makes it possible to adapt the functional assembly to at least two different main widths at the front and rear of the chassis.

Furthermore, the module 9A is provided in the preferred embodiment, shown in Figure 1, in addition to the collection tank 8, the following elements:
- 25 water tanks, arranged on either side of the tank 8 to the top of the tank 8;
- Storage boxes 26, in particular for storing pipes and other accessories, arranged on either side of the tank 8 towards the bottom of the tank 8;
- 27 cyclone tanks (and pumps) provided with a pipe 28; And
- various accessories (or equipment), necessary and/or useful for the implementation of the sewer cleaner, such as a high pressure hose reel, a pumping hose reel, command and control systems and/or bumpers .

In a variant embodiment (not shown), the module 9A can be provided only with some of the previous elements and/or also include other elements.

In addition, the module 9B is provided, inside the closed box 29, with a hydraulic motor, preferably high-pressure pumps, a filtering system, etc., as well as a hydraulic pump 34. This module 9B is linked to a usual power take-off 30 of the carrier vehicle 2, for the drive (or the power take-off).

In a variant embodiment (not shown), the module 9B can be provided only with some of the previous elements and/or also include other elements.

To mount (or install) a functional assembly 4, such as that described above, on a carrier vehicle 2 with the aim of obtaining a sewer cleaner 1, it is generally sufficient to implement only the following main operations:
A1) lay the subframe 10B on the frame 3, and fix it to the fixing points 32, for example to four fixing points 32;
A2) lay the subframe 10A on the frame 3, and fix it to the fixing points 32, for example to four fixing points 32;
A3) place the functional module 9B on the subframe 10B and fix it to the fixing points, for example to four fixing points, and also make the connection to the power take-off 30 and possibly other cable connections and/ or pipes; And
A4) place the functional module 9A on the subframe 10A and fix it to the fixing points, for example to four fixing points.

Steps A1, A2, A3 and A4 can be implemented according to several different sequences, by planning to first mount one or other of the subframes 10A and 10B or one or other of the functional modules 9A and 9B.

Furthermore, to dismantle (or remove) a functional assembly 4, such as that described above, from a carrier vehicle 2, it suffices for example to carry out the preceding operations in reverse, namely:
B1) remove the fixings (at the fixing points) linking the functional module 9A to the subframe 10A, for example at four fixing points, and remove the functional module 9A from the subframe 10A;
B2) disconnect the power take-off 30, remove the fixings (at the fixing points) linking the functional module 9B to the subframe 10B, for example at four fixing points, and remove the functional module 9B from the subframe 10B;
B3) remove the fixings (at the fixing points 32) linking the subframe 10A to the frame 3, for example at four fixing points, and remove the subframe 10A from the frame 3; And
B4) remove the fixings (at the fixing points 32) linking the subframe 10B to the chassis 3, for example at four fixing points, and remove the subframe 10B from the chassis 3.

Steps B1, B2, B3 and B4 can be implemented according to several different sequences, by planning to first deposit one or the other of the functional modules 9A and 9B.

It is thus possible to achieve rapid installation and/or removal of the functional assembly 4 relative to the chassis 3 of the carrier vehicle 4, and this in particular thanks to the following characteristics:
- the integration of all the functional equipment in two functional modules 9A and 9B;
- the use of adaptable subframes 10A and 10B;
- a limited number of fixing points, on the one hand between the functional modules 9A and 9B and the subframes 10A and 10B, and on the other hand between the subframes 10A and 10B and the frame 3; And
- the use of quick fastening means such as bolts.

It will be noted that, in a usual sewer cleaner not having the characteristics of the present invention, the equipment is generally nested one inside the other and pipes and connection cables are also provided at the level of the frame, which means that, without the use of modules and subframes as in the present invention, the removal time of the equipment of such a usual sewer cleaner is much longer. The same is true for exposure time. This requires modifying the entire subframe making it suitable for mounting on another undercarriage. Such an operation is long and expensive.

Moreover, although this is not the primary object of the invention, it is also possible that, for a new sewer cleaner, the carrier vehicle is kept, and the functional assembly is replaced, by mounting a new functional assembly on this carrier vehicle, as described above. This situation may arise, for example, in the event of breakdown or failure of one or more items of equipment in the functional assembly. This situation can also arise when it is desired to replace at least one of the functional modules with another functional module provided with other equipment or equipment of the same type but having different characteristics.

The functional assembly 4 and the hydrocleaner 1, as described above, have many advantages. Especially:
- they make it possible to achieve and facilitate the interchangeability of the wearer with respect to the functional assembly in order in particular:
• reduce downtime; And
• to respond to current and/or future environmental constraints of carrier vehicles which are changing very rapidly, to replace an old carrier vehicle (which no longer meets these environmental constraints) with a new carrier vehicle which, for its part, meets these environmental constraints; And
- the modularity of the functional assembly 4, with the two functional modules 9A and 9B and the two subframes 10A and 10B, allows rapid removal and rapid reassembly of a chassis from a carrier vehicle to another chassis of another carrier vehicle; And
- the modularity of the functional modules 9A and 9B and of the subframes 10A and 10B can allow standardized manufacture of these elements.

Claims (11)

Functional assembly of a sewer cleaner intended to be mounted on a carrier vehicle (2) provided with a chassis (3), the functional assembly (4) comprising a plurality of functional equipment (8, 25, 26, 27, 34 ),
characterized in that it comprises:
- two functional modules (9A, 9B) comprising all said functional equipment (8, 25, 26, 27, 34), namely a first functional module (9A) provided with at least one tank (8) and a second functional module (9B) provided with at least one pumping system; And
- two subframes (10A, 10B), each of said functional modules (9A, 9B) being able to be fixed on one of said subframes (10A, 10B), each of said subframes (10A, 10B) being adaptable to different carrier vehicle chassis and being adapted to the chassis (3) of the carrier vehicle (2) on which it is intended to be mounted. Functional assembly according to claim 1,
characterized in that each of said subframes (10A, 10B) is adaptable in width. Functional assembly according to claim 2,
characterized in that each of the said subframes (10A, 10B) comprises longitudinal members (11A, 11B) and crosspieces (12A, 12B), the crosspieces (12A, 12B) having a length adapted to the width of the chassis (3) of the carrier vehicle (2). Functional assembly according to claim 3,
characterized in that at least some of said crosspieces are telescopic. Functional assembly according to one of Claims 3 and 4,
characterized in that at least some of said crosspieces are curved to create a passage under the curvature (24A, 24B). Functional assembly according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that each of the subframes (10A, 10B) has four attachment points (32) intended for its removable attachment to the chassis (3). Functional assembly according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the first functional module (9A) is provided, in addition to the tank (8), with at least some of the following elements:
- water tanks (25);
- storage boxes (26);
- cyclone tanks (27). Functional assembly according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the second functional module (9B) comprises a closed box (29) in which is installed, in addition to the pumping system, at least one high pressure system and one filtering system. Hydrocleaner,
characterized in that it comprises a carrier vehicle (2) provided with a chassis (3), as well as a functional assembly (4) according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, which is removably fixed to the said chassis (3) of the carrier vehicle (2). Hydrocleaner according to claim 9,
characterized in that each of the subframes (10A, 10B) is removably fixed to the chassis (3) at fixing points (32), each of the fixing points (32) comprising a first support element (19 , 22) secured to the subframe (10A, 10B) which is removably fixed to a second support element (18, 21) secured to the chassis (3). Hydrocleaner according to one of claims 9 and 10,
characterized in that the chassis (3) of the carrier vehicle (2) has a variable width and in that each of the subframes (10A, 10B) is adapted to the width of the part of the chassis (3) on which it is fixed.